Headspace sample incubation overlap on a Shimadzu QP2010S?

[IdiotFool]

Hello, all.

I was wondering if anybody else has experience with the Shimadzu QP2010S, equipped with a Combi-Pal injector system from LEAP. The more samples I start running in headspace, the more apparent it is that I need to be able to overlap sample incubations to keep the GC running efficiently. The Shimadzu GCMS Software leaves a lot to be desired and I haven't yet found a way to get this thing to overlap samples.

Has anybody else had experience with this?

P.S. I never would have bought the Shimadzu system, and highly discourage its purchase to others, but it's here to stay in my lab. The software is awful and the service is crappy. I remember when I used to think Chemstation was clunky... Those were the days.

[rb6banjo]

SPME or static headspace? If SPME, are you trying to equilibrate the next sample while one is running? If yes, I believe you are limited by the sampler and the way it moves samples around. The best you can do is have as small a desorption time as necessary to clean your fiber for the next injection.

If you're running static headspace, I don't see why you can't time it such that sample is equilibrated by the end of your run.

If you need an exorbitantly long equilibration time for your sample, you're at the mercy of that.

[IdiotFool]

SPME or static headspace? If SPME, are you trying to equilibrate the next sample while one is running? If yes, I believe you are limited by the sampler and the way it moves samples around. The best you can do is have as small a desorption time as necessary to clean your fiber for the next injection.

If you're running static headspace, I don't see why you can't time it such that sample is equilibrated by the end of your run.

If you need an exorbitantly long equilibration time for your sample, you're at the mercy of that.

Sorry, I should have specified - this is static headspace. The problem is that the Shimadzu software controls the combipal and each sample reloads the data to be sent to the injector system. In the past, I tried simply creating a macro to grab the next sample at the appropriate time and, though it would, once the first sample's runtime was complete, the injection system would reset and it would "forget" that there was something in the oven.

Have you experience with the Shimadzu system? Do you know if they have alternative software or is there a way to use CombiPal's software to inject and Shimadzu's software to record the data?

Thanks!

[rb6banjo]

With the chemstation, we have it set up to wait for a remote start signal from the sampler. So, the GC only responds when the sampler tells it to do so. I create a sequence so that the GC knows how many samples to expect and the "brains of the outfit" is the sampler. All I have to do is ensure that the timing is such that the GC will be ready before the sample.

Maybe you can configure your GC to just wait for the remote start from the sampler? That way, you can start incubating your next sample almost immediately after the injection (static headspace).

Sorry, I'm an Agilent/HP guy. No experience with Shimadzu (except for my UV-Vis instrument).

[dlbenach]

I just got done doing this with an Agilent GC running Empower. I know it's not the same as your case, but maybe it will help lead you to a solution. There is a PAL website, http://www.palsystem.com , where you can download manuals. There is one for the CombiPal which I found helpful. In the case of Empower, we have a CD titled, "PAL Instrument Control for Waters Empower". On it, is a PAL cycle called HS_2-vial_overlap that allows the CombiPAL to prep ahead. There is also an instruction manual on the CD. Maybe you have a PAL CD with the Shimadzu info on it?? We were also able to run the CombiPal with it prepping ahead by only using the handheld controller. You can program it to wait for the GC Ready signal.